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Board hears environmental health enforcement updates, new MOU for kitchen inspections and staffing needs
Summary
Environmental health staff briefed the board on two problem properties facing possible abatement orders, a new MOU to perform kitchen inspections for neighboring counties, and work growth driving an anticipated need for a second full-time sanitarian as licensing climbs to roughly 450.
Environmental health staff told the board they are monitoring two properties with large accumulations of garbage and will follow a staged enforcement process: initial notices with two-week remediation windows, extended time for demonstrable progress, then abatement orders with 30 days to comply and possible civil assessment or tax-roll recovery for cleanup costs if owners fail to act. "So we're gonna give those owners a couple more shots. And if they don't, they're gonna get some abatement orders, meaning they'll have 30 days to clean it up or they'll get a fine," the presenter said.
Staff also described a new memorandum of understanding to perform kitchen inspections as an agent for neighboring counties that lack state agents (Cropper County, Richland, Crawford, Grant). The county plans to charge fees based on complexity plus mileage. The department said the sanitation program has grown to roughly 450 licenses and is currently self-supporting; staff predicted the workload will soon require a second full-time sanitarian.
